sink in, as far as it still feels somewhat surreal. reporter: karen ine, warm, safe, and lucky to be alive this morning after incredibly surv e surviving a harrowing ordeal. the pennsylvania woman, her husband, eric, and 10-year-old son, isaac, for the holiday. they decided to take a road trip, visit a world wonder. we would go to brice canyon and spend the night and go to the north rim. reporter: it was in the harsh north rim everythinwent south. their cell phone gps recommending a shortcut. it diverted us on a forest road. reporter: the family realized it was a wrong turn to a narrow closed road. eventually, getting stuck in the mud. and for an hour, we tried to get the car out. we had no cell service. we couldn t call anybody to help us out. and it was decided that, look, there is a main road up ahead
morning. reporter: kline found and air lifted to safety, frostbitten but smiling. i think karen is a very brave woman who did the most she could to help her family. reporter: a dangerous journey turned christmas miracle. i was determined that, you know, this is not, this is not how my life is going to end. reporter: and just hours after they rescued karen, a massive winter storm hits the region that rescuers say would have made it impossible to find her. doctors are working in the hospital. they re confident she s going to make a full recovery. wow, that is unbelievable. steve, thank you. coming up next hour, new details about the russian military plane crash that killed 92 people as investigators recover the flight recorder. what may have brought down the plane just minutes after takeoff. but first, it was an incredible year for women athletes, but one was leaps and bounds above the rest. who the female athlete of the year is next.